End of the Year

It's the last day of 2005 - time sure does fly by & so much can change so quickly.  A year ago I was just graduating & nervously awaiting the start of a new career.  Now I am contemplating leaving the hospital I have become comfortable with - partly to gain more experience & partly because they make things more difficult than it has to be.  The lastest is that we have a new manager/director of our department & she is holding up my ability to go per diem (more money).  Gina is in the same boat.  We were told when we were hired that after we gained a year of experience, we could opt to go per diem.  Now she is saying she needs some time to figure it out - who knows how much time that is, but I want to be paid more now that I met my part of the bargain, you know?  So her indecision may force me to move on to other hospitals.  It's something I want to do, yet at the same time I am very comfortable with the routine & the staff at my current hospital.  That's one good thing about this career....ANYTHING is possible.  With the nursing shortage, we are in demand...makes it easier to move on if you're unhappy where you're at. 

I had a wonderful Christmas.  I love Christmas time, but I am glad it's over.  One less thing to think about & far less money to spend.  I did buy myself a couple of presents...for one - a new computer.  Yep, it was time.  I'm switching over to high speed internet (about time) & wanted a computer that could maximize my use.  I went with Dell & boy, are they fast.  I ordered it Monday night, it was built & shipped on Wednesday & delivered to my door by Friday at noon.  So glad I didn't pay $160 extra for next day delivery because their free delivery was quick.  I love it - it's soooo quiet, you cannot even tell that it's on.  My old computer, well, let's just say it definitely wasn't super quiet like this one.  My other purchase was a Play Station 2.  I used to play video games all the time & sometime in the last 10 years I stopped.  I have no idea why.  I'll grow up one day, but for now, I'm getting back into video games.

I am not scheduled to work until Tuesday.  It's been nice having the last week off.  Have I mentioned how much I like the flexibility of nursing?  That is one thing I do like about my current hospital - we can pick our schedule as opposed to other hospitals that assign you certain days.  Flexibility is key. 

Not too much else going on.  I'm trying to decide what to do tonight for celebrating the New Year.  It seems like it's the same decision each year - go out or stay in?  When I go out, I'm wishing I was at home & not on the roads with all of the drunk drivers.  Yet when I'm at home, I feel like I should be out partying in the new year.  Can't win, can I?  2006...where has the time gone???

Happy New Year everyone...be safe tonight!

 

My Instincts were Correct

In my last post, I just wrote about hearing what I would describe as a "death rattle"....well, I was correct.  I worked last night & looked up in the computer to see how my 95 yr old patient was doing only to find out she died on Wednesday.  I feel for the family....it's hard enough losing a loved one, but I think it's worse when it's very close to Christmas or any other holiday. 

I worked overtime last night & was so glad I did.  I ended up with only 2 patients.  They were pretty easy to care for although one of them seems to be quite ill.  She had hip surgery yesterday, needed blood transfusions, had very poor urine output...3000 ml in & only about 400 out.  So not sure if she was going into renal failure or what.  On top of that she has a raging UTI and her cardiac enzymes are elevated. 

My other patient was a gentleman that was in for chest pain.  It wasn't cardiac related so I imagine they'll send him home today.  I'm debating about whether to work tonight or not.  Overtime makes it so worth it, but I still have a lot of Christmas stuff to do.  I'll take a nap & decide later.  Ciao!

Wrapping

Everyone ready for Christmas?  I have spent the last few hours wrapping presents.  Next year I'm teaching my niece how to wrap so she can do it all except for the presents I buy for her.  I used to enjoy wrapping presents, but now...I just want to be done! 

I had a good week at work...busy the first 2 nights, but my third night was a piece of cake.  I've come to appreciate nights like those because they are so rare.  Actually looking back, Sunday night was a lot of work & I wasn't too happy.  My rooms were all spread out down the hallway.  I prefer them to be together...not just because it makes it a little easier, but I think the patients would appreciate it more seeing the same faces over & over rather than multiple people coming in & out of the room.  Anyways.....as soon as I reported to my floor, I was told "Oh nooooo, you have "that" patient."  Not exactly the words one wants to hear.  I was told he was yelling & screaming the night before, he was punching & kicking to the point of needing to be put in wrist & foot restraints.  He has alzheimer's & Sundowner's...meaning he doesn't really sleep at night as well as being beyond confused. 

My second patient is a 95 yr old woman in with altered mental status.  I've had her as a patient before & she has definitely gone downhill.  In fact, I had her for 3 nights straight & it seemed she was getting worse as time went on.  At 95, what is there really to expect?  There are exceptions, but most people don't make it to 95.  Add into it that she also had c-diff & a UTI....her body was having a rough time fighting the infections.

My third patient was also someone I've had in the past.  He was in with pneumonia, but also had some anxiety issues going on.  Nice gentleman, just worried way too much about things he didn't need to worry about.

My fourth patient - well, he was awaiting discharge.  Actually, we were waiting for him to urinate before we could let him leave - since he had a foley in earlier.  Any nursing student knows...can't discharge until you see some urine...fun, fun, fun.  About an hour later he was good to go. 

At the same time, I was orienting a med/surg nurse to PCU.  My unit is so short-staffed that they are requiring med/surg nurses to be flexible & to fill-in when we need them.  She was nice, a quick learner...she'll do fine.  After all, I oriented her to the unit!!!!!  :)

I got a new admit around midnight...a 52 yr old male that became disoriented at home.  His blood pressure was 214/110 upon arrival to the ER.  So I ask the ER nurse...what did you give him for his blood pressure?  Answer:  nothing.  Ummm, why not?  Reply:  We thought it would go down on it's own.  Now I have to say...our ER has been slammed the last month - every single day & night.  This week was even worse - to the point that all of our beds were practically full & they had PCU nurses in the ER taking care of patients that were awaiting admission.  Which basically means...they are too sick to send home, but we are too full & have no beds available...so they spend a night or two in the ER awaiting a bed to become available.  Not a lot of fun, I'm sure.

So I admit this gentleman, take his blood pressure & it's something like 170/105.  I'm not a happy camper.  I end up giving him the blood pressure medication the doctor ordered in the ER but the patient had never received.  Off to sleep this patient goes, can't blame him for being tired after spending 12 hours in the ER. 

I get another new admit around 5:30 am.  This time a trach patient with pneumonia.  I was dredding it.  I just am not comfortable with trachs....there are a few things that can creep me out....a hole in someone's neck is one of those things.  This gentleman worked with asbestos years ago & developed cancer of the throat as a result of that.  That's why he had a trach.  Very, very nice man...I just couldn't understand most of what he was saying.  Not to mention when he'd try to cough up phlegm through his trach opening.  That just gags me.  Don't know if I'll ever be comfortable with trachs. 

Another thing that grosses me out....fake eyeballs or even stories about how someone lost an eye.  I just instantly feel pain.  I mention this because a patient I had a couple of weeks ago had lost an eye when he was a child.  Someone acidentally poked his eye out with a stick...eww.  Definitely gives true meaning to that saying "Don't do that, you'll poke an eye out!"  On top of that, he had a fake eyeball & the day nurse was telling me about how she helped him take it out & clean it.  Eeekkk...it's turning my stomach now as I recall her talking about it.  That same night, Gina got a patient who had no eye at all....just an empty socket.  She tried to get me to go look at it...but no way......sorry, can't do it. 

Ok, back to my first patient...the one that I was told was unruly & out of control.  I go in to assess him & he's sleeping.  I'm not dumb.....I let the man sleep.  Who am I to wake him up?  Luckily the family also hired a private sitter to spend the night in his room.  I had no problems with him at all.  He's actually a very smart man...went to MIT, was an engineer...very smart cookie.  My only problem...getting him to take his pills.  He wouldn't do it.  I tried putting them in pudding so he could swallow them all in one scoop.  He told me to leave well enough alone.  I came back later when the tech was taking his temperature...after she was done, we talked him into trying some pudding & finally got his pills into him.

By the morning, I was writing out to the clinical leader which patients I didn't want back the next night.  Not because I had a problem with the patients, I just didn't want to have my rooms all spread out again.  Luckily it worked out well.......I kept 2 of my patients & got 2 new ones.  One patient I didn't have back was the 52 yr old & I am so glad I missed out on that one.  At the beginning of the shift, I heard him yelling & swearing at his wife.  He's furious that the doctors aren't telling him why he became disoriented....he wanted instant answers.  He was yelling at the nurse, he was ranting & raving.....just way overdoing it.  No wonder his blood pressure is so high.  Personally I think he was flipping out because he hadn't had a cigarette in over 24 hrs.  Smokers tend to get a little nutty when they are forced to go cold turkey. 

Anyways, that's about it in a nutshell.  My 95 yr old patient is still alive, but I swear I was hearing what would be referred to as a "death rattle."  It was just a bizarre noise she was making, not to mention she was shaking.  There was nothing I could do to improve her condition or her comfort level.  With someone like that, you're basically playing a waiting game.  The respiratory therapist is convinced she only has a few days of life left...we shall see.

I had today off, but I think I will put in a night of overtime tomorrow night.  One of the clinical leaders called me Monday morning & was basically begging me to pick up some shifts between now & Jan 1st.  I need to figure out what nights I want to work...all next week will be shifts offering bonuses.  I sorta wanted to take the week off, but it is hard to pass up the money they are offering.  I'll play it by ear.  Enough about me.........hope y'all are done Christmas shopping & enjoying time spent with family & friends.  To the nursing students that read my journal...hope you had a great semester.  Rest up & enjoy your time off.  January will be here soon enough.  :)

 

 

 

First year complete!

December 16th, 2005 = 1 yr anniversary of graduation from nursing school...aka...the pinning ceremony.  It also marks the end of my first year as a nurse because today is also the anniversay of the day that I accepted the job offer to become a PCU nurse from the hospital I currently work for.  In fact, I accepted the offer during the pinning ceremony rehearsal! 

It has gone by quickly - that's for sure.  I know I still have tons to learn & much more experience to gain...but looking back, I have come a long way.  I feel much more confident in my nursing skills & critical thinking abilities.  As most things in life, the best way to learn is hands-on rather than from a book.  It also has been very helpful working in a hospital environment as supportive as the one I am at.  There were only 3 of us from my graduating class that took jobs at this hospital - because many did not think much of the place throughout (we had the majority of our clinicals there) school  - including us.  I've got a different perspective now...for one, we are treated differently (much better) as co-workers as opposed to student nurses.  Even with all of the travel nurses & agency nurses, it still remains to be a tight-knit group that is always there to lend a hand, especially in crisis situations...not to mention the daily chit-chat to relieve stress. 

If I had not taken a job at that other hospital (earlier this year), I probably would have not realized the difference.  It showed me that they can provide you with all of the resources possible, but if you don't have a staff that is willing to back you up & help you out - you are not going to be happy.  That's one of the things that scares me when I think about becoming a travel nurse or agency nurse - will I end up in an unsupportive work environment?  Or are there hospitals that are even better than where I'm currently at?  I guess the only way to really know is through experience.  Even the word of others isn't often believed until you deal with it first hand.  We (Gina & I) had been told by others that we would hate working at that other hospital.  We thought they were insane...but in the end, they were right. 

I haven't been in touch with too many of my other classmates.  I am curious to hear their thoughts & experiences thus far.  I also like hearing from other nursing students - those who are getting ready to start the program or are in the midst of it.  My best advice to them...be confident in yourself & don't let anyone take that away from you.  If the confidence isn't there, fake it until it is.  That doesn't mean pretend like you know what you're doing & don't ask questions...by all means, seek out the information...but always be confident in who you are.  Being nervous is normal...don't let it overwhelm you. 

It has been an amazing year & I am so glad I have chosen this profession.  I think I may have finally found my niche in life...career-wise anyhow.  :)

Full Moon Confusion

It was definitely easy to tell a full moon was due this week.  Sunday night was a busy, busy night for me.  I had 5 confused patients & it seemed like they were all competing for the title of "most confused." 

In 5th place - a woman that seemed to think she was staying at the Hilton & had her own personal nurse to tend to her every need.  She was in the hospital due to pneumonia.  The noises she made were so disgusting....it was embarrassing for women-kind.  Add to that her nose picking & pressing the call light every 5 minutes....amazingly she was the least of my worries that night.  Most annoying, but not most confused. 

4th place goes to an elderly man in with a possible small bowel obstruction.  He kept taking off his heart monitor & when I'd go back in to put it back on him, he'd state "I didn't take that off, someone else did."  Ummmm, ok.  He was a sweet man....continuously made this humming sound, even when he was sleeping. 

3rd place went to my c-diff patient.  I don't know if he had a little bit of Sundowner's going on or what.  He started out pretty alert & oriented at the beginning of shift, but as the night went on, he seemed somewhat confused although he would deny it.  Anyone in nursing knows that c-diff is not a fun diagnosis...enough said.

2nd place goes to an elderly woman in with a hip fracture.  She started out sharing a room with my needy patient.  It didn't take me long to see that if I didn't separate them, a yelling match was about to ensue.  They both referred to each other as being "the crazy one."  So I move this lady to another room...she was as sweet as can be.  I fully anticipated she would go to sleep for the night......so much for anticipation!  Instead the tech found her wandering the room...how she ambulated with a fractured hip - I'll never understand.  Ok, back to bed......put on the bed alarm.  Well, she continuously tried to get out of bed.  So next up was a posey vest...didn't want her falling & hurting herself further.  She seemed ok with the vest - probably wasn't even aware it was on.  I check on her a little later.....she has pulled out her IV.  That's ok, she already has a second IV...switch the fluids to that & tell her not to mess with it.  Recheck her...I see her scratching at the other IV.  Ok, time to restrain the hand that can reach the IV.  She was still ok with that...but, she was working on getting out of the wrist restraint & Posey with the free hand.  She wasn't swift about it, but I knew it was a matter of time before she was free.  So I restrained the other wrist...that's when she flipped out.  This sweet woman sure did have a nasty mouth on her.  Needless to say, she spent the rest of the night yelling & cursing....so much for anticipating she'd sleep.

The most confused award goes to my younger patient.  It really is a bizarre story & I have thought often about it & try to wonder how it would feel to be in her condition.  She was a woman in her mid-40's...moved to Florida from Jamaica sometime in the last 2 years.  She had a really bad headache on Saturday...took some excedrin & went to bed.  Woke up with a headache on Sunday....painful to the point of crying.  Her adult children decided to bring her to the hospital...she came into the ER totally alert & oriented...answered questions appropriately.  They gave her some pain meds for the headache, she took a nap in the ER while awaiting tests to be run.  When she woke up - her short term memory was gone.  It was basically amnesia..she did not remember ever coming to America.  In fact, I couldn't even convince her that she was in Florida.  She truly believed she was in Jamaica & that I was someone she met in the Cayman Islands.  Even the neuro doc was stumped...all her tests were normal, but the memory was gone.  I'm sure having an elderly woman screaming & yelling in the bed next to her didn't help with becoming reoriented either. 

Needless to say, my night flew by Sunday night. Before I knew it.....it was time to go home...yay!  I requested not having all of the same patients again the next night - it was too heavy of a workload for one person.  So they gave 3 of my patients to another nurse.  I kept the needy one & the possible small bowel obstruction.  I'm glad I did....as the other nurse had her hands full.  I helped her out quite a bit, but was glad the responsibility was out of my hands. 

The patient with c-diff developed an itchy rash in the middle of the night, which turned out to be "Red Man's Syndrome."  I have never heard of it before...but it's a reaction to the antibiotic Vancomycin = one of the big guns when it comes to antibiotics.  The reaction can get so bad that the person stops breathing - eeekkk!  She got him some benadryl & by the time she administered it, the morning labs were in.  His H&H was dropping...something like 8 & 24.  Not good.  More calls to the doctor for her. 

The woman with the hip fracture managed to get out of her posey vest & fell getting out of bed.  She didn't have any apparent injuries, but required a call to her doctor as well as filling out an incident report.  Back into wrist restraints she went & the yelling began.

The woman with amnesia was trying to leave the hospital.  She was convinced there were 2 men in the room trying to put her in a body bag.  We had to talk her down & make her believe that wasn't happening.  So add hallucinations to the amnesia. 

I thought to myself...ok, it's been a crazy 2 days, Tuesday night definitely has to improve.  I once again made a request not to have the needy woman back.  I could only take so much of her demands.  My request was granted...I got a new patient load on Tuesday.  I still had the man with the small bowel obstruction which was fine. 

I also had a gentleman that was transferred from ICU earlier in the day.  He had internal bleeding when he came into the hospital.....had surgery & was on the road to recovery - except when he'd go into V-tach every now & then.  Since he wasn't symptomatic with it - we didn't treat it.  Still though.....I don't like seeing runs of V-tach.

I had a woman in her mid-30's in with syncope.  Seems she was under a lot of stress at home due to her teen daughter.  All of her test results were normal.  I believe they were going to discharge her & treat her with an antidepressant.  I talked to her & told her that as stressful as it is watching a teen make mistakes - that sometimes they have to learn the hard way.  Her daughter is 18....teens make dumb decisions everyday...hopefully they learn from them.  She agreed with me, but it was apparent she was stressed. 

Along with my 4th patient...a woman in her late 50's in with chest pain.  I could tell immediately there was some stress going on at home, just wasn't sure how much truth there was to her statements.  Many times through the night I had to tell her to try to stop thinking about what is going on at home & focus on taking care of her own health.  What put it over the top was this morning...right before the change of shift...she came out of her room & basically started yelling at one of the other nurses.  My patient was convinced the nurse was making fun of her & that she could hear her talking about her & laughing.  It was bizarre.  I got her back to her bed & the woman was shaking & began crying.  I wasn't sure what to do.  I didn't want to argue with her that the other nurse wasn't making fun of her when the patient was so convinced this had happened, but I also didn't want her having a mental breakdown.  She grabbed my hand to hold & sat there rambling on about things.  I could tell there was no way to talk any sense into her, so I asked "What can I do to make it better?"  I felt for her, but she was obviously overreacting & there was no way to prevent that. 

Actually...before that outburst...another nurse got a new admit.  Literally a woman that would not stop screaming.  Really nice to get an admit like that at 5 am when most of the other patients are sleeping.  She would not stop screaming.  We had to restrain her hands because she kept trying to punch & grab us.  We also had to get a foley catheter into her...it took 5 of us to hold her down. 

So any thoughts of putting in a night of overtime tonight were quickly put to rest.  Too many signs to just stay home.  I hope this isn't how the next month will be...but it seems like we've gotten quite a bit of confused patients lately. 

On a sad note, a patient that I had taken care of about a month ago passed away last week.  I saw her name in the obituaries.  It made me sad.  I don't usually remember too many patients offhand, but she was one that stuck in my memory.  I'm sure I probably wrote about her in here...she was my patient that had the nosebleed that wouldn't stop & a high heart rate that the doctor didn't want to address.  I knew she was transferred to the ICU, but I was really hoping she'd get better & go home to continue her happy life.  It gets to me that she passed away...especially around the holidays.  :(

Speaking of the holidays, I do believe the majority of my Christmas shopping is complete.  I still need to get a few things, but it's nice knowing I'm just about done.  Now it's time to buy myself something...lol.  I need to decide what it is I want.  I'm leaning towards a new computer...but no rush.

Hope y'all are getting your shopping done.  Have a good weekend!

 

I should be napping

It's been a pretty good week so far.  I worked Sun, Mon & Tues nights and will be going in tonight for some overtime - so I should be napping - but I wanted to post on here first.

My week went well...Sun & Mon nights I had the same exact patients both nights - I enjoy that.  Makes it better for both myself & the patient...as opposed to having a different nurse each & every shift.  It also makes getting report short & sweet.

I started off in report being told about my first patient...an elderly man with dementia that was angry & would yell things out continuously.  He was in for pneumonia I believe...I had no problems with him at all.  The first night he started off sitting in a chair, got him into bed & he slept the entire night with absolutely no anger or yelling out.  What can I say - I have the magic touch...lol.  The second night, he would keep asking for coffee - even if you just gave him a cup.  Sad to see how the mind sometimes works...or doesn't work properly.  By the third night, he was downgraded to med/surg status & I transferred him around 9 pm. 

My second patient was an elderly woman in with CHF.  She is probably one of the sweetest patients I've had so far this year.  She happens to be a retired RN.  She was improving greatly each day, but the smile on her face said it all.  When I showed up Tues night, she was looking for me & was so happy to see me.  I like when I can make a connection like that.....to bring a smile to a patient's face is the best reward, if you ask me.

My third patient was also in with CHF.  This gentleman just cannot catch a break....in his early 50's...he's had heart problems, got better....then found himself with back problems....had spinal reconstruction surgery - thought he was on his way to recovery only to find out he now has lung cancer.  Monday night he was feeling depressed about his life.  I took some time to chat with him...it's difficult to try to cheer someone up with all that he's been through, so I simply encouraged him to express how he was feeling.  The next night when I came in, he said hewas feeling a lot better - that he woke up with a new outlook & his spirits were lifted.  I was glad to hear it.  He also was downgraded to med/surg status & as much as I didn't want to give him up as a patient, I transferred him to med/surg around 10:30 pm. 

My fourth patient - he was amusing.  He came in with syncope - kept passing out at home.  He blamed it on taking Levaquin, but as they ran the tests, it showed that it wasn't a reaction to medication.  I had time on Sunday night to actually spend time with my patients (as opposed to tons of paperwork) & I was concerned about him because he kept stating that he just didn't feel right.  I've learned enough to know that when a patient says things don't feel right - to listen to them.  So I pulled up a chair as he sat bedside.  He was saying he felt like he was going to pass out.  However, he was able to talk & talk - I learned all about his life over the 3 nights that I had him.  We joked, we talked, we looked out for one another...by the third night, he was trying to swap his blueberry muffins with me for some cookies...lol.  His admitting doctor came in Tuesday morning & asked me "Is this patient ready to be discharged?"  I told him "No, he's having trouble with his left leg, is having difficulty standing, complaining of feeling like he's going to pass out & he's short of breath."  The doctor said "Are you looking for reasons to keep him here?"  So much for advocating for my patient.  I told him I'm just answering his question.  He turned & said "I don't care, I'm discharging him to a nursing home."  Then he went to talk to the patient, came back out & said "You're right, this patient is not ready to be discharged."  At least he was able to acknowledge when he was wrong - unlike some people I know <g>.  Anyways, this patient had a stress test on Tuesday & it was positive.  The cardiologist wanted to do a heart cath & possible heart bypass surgery.  The patient wanted a little time to think it over.  Tuesday night his neurologist wanted to do a CT of the brain.  I informed the patient & he got upset - said he had bad memories from the past & did not want to be put through that again.  I told him that was fine....he has the right to refuse any tests.  So I informed the neurologist, cancelled the test & informed the pt it was all taken care of.  He continued to tell me about his fears about CT's & MRI's.....I told him he didn't have to convince me - I'm on his side & I understand his apprehension.  Later I went in there & he told me he had been dreaming about our conversation.  I told him that surely he must have better things to dream about.  :)  I hope everything turns out ok for him.  He was a sweetheart.

On Monday night, I was given a new admit....to quote the ER... "we wanted to get him out of here before he coded."  The gentleman came in on bipap & everyone was telling me that once the pulmonologist saw him, he'd probably be transferred to ICU.  Luckily it was 6 am when I received this patient, so by the time I got done with the admission paperwork & assessment, it was time to go home.  Later I found out that rather than going to ICU, the family decided to go with hospice.  I chatted with the hospice nurse for a little while - they truly are angels here on earth.

Tuesday night I got 2 admits also.  Another one that seemed like he belonged in ICU....his pH on arrival to the ER was 7.1.  I believe they say anything under 7.0 is death...so I was concerned about receiving this patient.  Respiratory worked with him & got his pH up to 7.4 by the time he made it to my floor.  He was fine through the night, no problems to speak of.

My other new admit was in with pneumonia, recurrent falls & hyponatremia.  His sodium level was 127.....normal is 135-145.  Needless to say, he was on the confused side.  He kept calling me "boss."  As the night progressed, the more confused he became.  I should have given him some saltine crackers to help with that sodium level, but I didn't think about it at the time.  He kept removing his heart monitor.  I'd go in, put it back on, explain to him the importance of it...he'd say "Ok, boss" & 10 minutes later it would be off again.  I couldn't see restraining him over that, although the heart monitor is very important.  I left it for the day shift nurse to decide what she wanted to do. 

I ended my shift with getting a flu shot - I don't want to get sick this season.  I know many say that the flu shot doesn't do squat, but I have gotten them the last 2 years & have not been sick at all......I'm hoping to keep that going.  Although I probably just jinxed myself by writing it...lol.

Anyways....I'm going back for more tonight & maybe even Saturday night - it's hard to pass up the overtime $$$ as well as the bonuses - wish me luck!

Sara Beth

Have y'all heard that song by Rascal Flatts...Sara Beth.  It's on right now...so beautiful.  Here's the lyrics:

Sara Beth is scared to death
To hear what the doctor will say
She hasn't been well, since the day that she fell
And the bruise it just won't go away

So she sits and she waits with her mother and dad
And flips through an old magazine
Till the nurse with the smile stands at the door
And says will you please come with me

Sara Beth is scared to death
Cause the doctor just told her the news
Between the red cells and white, something's not right
But we're gonna take care of you

Six chances in ten, it won't come back again
With the therapy we're gonna try
It's just been approved, it's the strongest there is
And I think we caught it in time
And Sara Beth closes her eyes.

And she dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love is holding her close
And a soft wind is blowing her hair

Sara Beth is scared to death
As she sits holding her mom
Cause it would be a mistake for someone to take
A girl with no hair to the prom

For just this morning, right there on her pillow
Was the cruelest of any surprise
And she cried when she gathered it all in her hands
The proof that she couldn't deny
And Sara Beth closes her eyes

And she dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love was holding her close
And a soft wind is blowing her hair

It's quarter to seven, that boy's at the door
And her daddy ushers him in
And when he takes off his cap
They all start to cry
Cause this morning where his hair had been
Softly she touches just skin

And they go dancing, around and around
Without any cares
And her very first true love is holding her close
And for a moment she isn't scared

Touching, isn't it? 

I had my niece stay over last night...we watched Santa Claus is Coming to Town and then...what even today I can't believe I watched.  Not only can I not believe I watched it, I can't believe anyone even came up with the idea = the first annual Miss Dog Pageant.  Yes, that's right....51 female dogs, onefrom each state & the District of Columbia competing to win Miss Dog.  They even had an evening gown competition!  What's next???  Oh well, my niece loved it...there was even a dog that had her name...Elizabeth Marie as well a dog with her friend's name Morgan.  Morgan made it into the finals...lol, go Morgan go.  (Are you laughing yet, Julie???) 

I love spending time with my niece.  It reminds me of how simple life should be....relaxing & playing.  No stress, no worries, just fun.  I told her last night not to get any bigger...to stay little.  She just rolls her eyes at me...lol.

I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but I went to The Olive Garden on Sunday afternoon.  While there, the waitress proceeded to drop a glass of water not only on our table, but in my lap.  I was soaking wet.  On top of that...our food took about 30 minutes to make it to the table.  She followed it up with "I'm sorry."  That's it..."I'm sorry."  I could tell she was somewhat new & I really did not want to get her in any trouble. I know I've made plenty of mistakes at my job...that's all part of the learning process.  However, I did contact Olive Garden online with my comments...never thinking anything much would really happen.  I have to say though...they actually do read comments.  By Wednesday afternoon, I had the general manager calling me on my cell phone apologizing profusely.  I also received a letter from corporate as well as a $30 gift card.  So as disappointed as I was after my meal on Sunday, I am proud of their efforts after the fact. 

I start back to work tomorrow night.  I wish I could say I'm looking forward to it...but my thoughts are the same as any day that I have to work.....I hope I get decent patients.  It's like playing the lottery everytime I'm at work...you don't have any clue how your night will go.  In a way I like that....a crisis could develop at any moment.  At the same time, something touching or meaningful can be said or done also.  I love the mystery of it all.  Hopefully it will be a good week!!